Headlight regulator



E. M. SORENG.

HEADLIGHT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1916.

1, 11 1 ,754, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

I I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR M. SORENG, F MILWAUKEE, WISCbNSIN, ASSIGNOR TO, BRIGGS '86 STRATTON COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, W'ISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

HEADLIGHT REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 4, 1922,

i Application filed November 24, 1916. Serial No. 138,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. Somme, a citizen of the United States, and resident of hililwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Headlight Regulators, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification. 3 i

This invention relates to headlight regulators for automobile headlights of the type in which a magneto or other alternating current generator is relied upon as the source of current supply for the electric headlights.

The object of the present invention'is to provide means whereby the failure of one of the lights of such a system will not cause the other to receive an excessive current liable to injure it but which will automatically introduce a choking effect upon the circuit of the remaining lamp and keep normal the current flow therethrough when the one headlight burns out or is otherwise out of circuit.

\Vith this object in view the invention consists of the headlight regulator as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a headlight regulator constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof; and,

Fig. 3 is a diagram of circuit connections of such headlight regulator.

In these drawings 10 indicates a box-like iron casting forming a casing adapted to be secured to a suitable part of the auto mobile. In this cup-shaped casing is placed magnet spool 11 composed of a pair of magnet windings surrounding the same core 12, which as shown may preferablyconsist of an ordinary bolt. ,The mag net coil is held in place-within the casing by an insulating composition 13 which is poured or otherwise placed. in the casing around th magnet in a liquid or plastic con dition and on hardening firmly holds the parts together and forms a solid filling for the casing. Leads of the windings are previously passed out through openings in the casing, there being three of them as shown,

one lea d wire 14 being common to both windings and the other lead wires 15 and 16 respectively extending from the other ends of the windings.

From their common terminal or lead wire 14 the two windings 1'7 and 18 of the magnet coil 11 turn in opposite directions so that they are opposed to each other, the object being that they should normally neutralize each other with the same current flow through both headlights to which the lead wires 15 and 16 are connected.

' In installing the regulator the grounded magneto 19 is connected through a switch 20 with the common lead wire ltand the lead wires 15 and 16 are respectively connected with headlights 21 and 22 which are-grounded. Vith the switch closed the alternating current from a-generator 19 is divided, each branch passing through one of the windings of the magnet coil 11 and then through one of the headlights. With the two headlights connected in multiple and their branch circuits including the oppositely wound coils of the magnet which neutralize each other .in their magnetic effect no impedance is offered to the flow of current other than the resistance of the winding, for the tendency of one coil to produce magnetism in one direction is equal to the tendency of the other to produce magnetism in th opposite direction. When, however, one branch circuit be comes broken, as by the burning out of one of the headlights, the tendency of the magnot winding connected withthe other headlight to produce magnetism is unresisted and the self-inductanc of the magnet acts to impede the current flow therethrough and so choke the flow of current to the remaining headlight as to compensate for the absence of the draft of current by the other headlight and so maintain conditions practically normal for such remaining headlight.

. The number of ampere turns in the magnet windings is adjusted so that at maximum speeds there will not be an excessive current through the lamps and the resistance of the windings is adjusted sothat when both lamps are in operation there will not be an excessive current through them.

tor to complete the magnetic circuit through the core, the ends of the core being sufliciently close to the walls of the casing for this purpose.

The regulator is simple and inexpensive in its construction and having no movable parts is durable and requires no attention. It is efiicient for the purpose intended, enabling the use of one headlight if desired or when necessary through accident or the burning out of a lamp.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A headlight regulator for automobiles and the lik using alternating current supply, comprising a cup-shaped iron casing, a cementitious material filling the casing, and a magnet spool embedded in the ccmentitious material with the ends of its metallic core close to the wall of the casing so as to utilize the casing as a return path for the magnetic flux.

2. A headlight regulator for automobiles and the like using alternating current supply, comprising a cup-shaped iron casing, having openings in the bottom thereof, a magnet spool contained therein with the ends of its metallic core close to the Walls of the casing to utilize the casing as a return path for the magnetic flux, said magnet spool having its lead Wires pass out of the casing through said openings, and a filling of cementitious material in the cavity of the casing surrounding the magnet spool and the lead wires.

3. As an article oi? manufacture a headlight regulator :for automobiles and the like nsin g alternating current supply, comprising a magnet spool, an iron bolt passing through the magnet spool and serving as a core there for, a cup-shaped iron casing with the cavity at its back containing the magnet spool with the ends of the bolt close to the walls thereof whereby the casing constitutes a return path for the magnetic flux, there being openings in the front of the casing through which the lead wires of the magnet windings pass, and a hardened filling in the cavity of the casing surrounding th magnet spool and its lead wires.

l. As an article of manufacture, a magnet spool, a metal core therefor, a metal casing having a cavity, and a hardened filling in the :avity of the casing having the magnet spool embedded therein with the ends of the core close to the walls of the casing whereby the casing constitutes a return path for the magnetic flux thereof.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR M. SORENG lVitnesses R. S. C. CALDWELL, H. D. CHASE. 

